Rome Travel Guide

Rome Travel Guide: How to Get There

By Plane

As the saying goes, “All Roads Lead to Rome” and true enough, getting to the huge city is very easy. Most international plane lands at the Rome’s Fiumicino/Leonardo the Vince Airport so most of those who are about to go on an Italian tour would start their journey at Rome first.

From the airport, there is a direct train that goes to the city center every 30 minutes. Train rides cost 11EUR. Taxi from the airport to the city center usually costs 40EUR and up.

By Train

Being the capital of Italy, Rome is connected through rail to almost all Italian cities. Getting there via the main station which is the Termini is quiet easy plus, there are different trains that can suite your budget.

From the Termini, it is also easy to go to popular places such as the Colosseum and the Vatican via the Rome Metro Service. There are also a lot of shops, Eat and Drinks, and hotels around the Termini. The Rome Hop on and Hop Off Tour busses usually starts at the Termini too.

Rome Travel Guide: Where to Stay

Rome’s Centro Storico and Tridente offer posh accommodations which are nearby shopping areas and luxury establishments. More affordable accommodations can be found in Stazione Termini and in Testaccio. On the other hand, notable Eat and Drinks are located in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto, while Monti, Celio, and Aventine are home to significant historical and archeological sites.
For travelers wanting to explore Vatican City, some establishments offer accommodations that are close to the major Vatican sites as well.

Rome Travel Guide: Travel Tips

Get out of your comfort zone. Get out from your hotel (especially if its located near the city center) early in the morning and walk. Have a simple coffee and some sweets in any of the open cafes and explore the city during its most quiet time. Rome is a great city to just get lost in.

Watch your belongings carefully especially at tourist attractions. Just like in any other Italian city, there could be a lot of pick pockets everywhere – even in the airport vicinity. Take care of your bags and wallets and travel documents.

Ask if there’s a corresponding price for souvenir photos. Some tourist attractions have photo booths where somebody from there would take your photo for a corresponding cost. For some places like the Colosseum for example, taking a photo with the men in a gladiator costumes can be very expensive.

Dress appropriately when visiting churches. It is a sign of respect and some places might even have it as a dress code. This typically means covering your shoulders if you have on a sleeveless top.

Don’t be fooled by unofficial tour guides. If you don’t belong to any tours and would want to experience the city by yourself, then be free to do so. However, there are many unofficial tour guides who will lure you with their services. Be very aware of costs.

Don’t exchange your money through unofficial money exchange vendors. It’s better to use an ATM so you can be sure you are getting the official rate. We are talking about your hard earned money here. Avoid being scammed.

Rome Travel Guide: Typical Costs

Price Range for Hotels

Just like in any other popular city in Italy, accommodation in Rome can hit you hard in the pocket. A no fuss no frill hotel near the city center cost €200 while a luxury hotel can cost upwards of €1000 per night.

The good thing about Rome however is that there are actually a lot of interesting places to stay in. There are bed and breakfast places that are not really far for the city center that cost between €50 to about €100. Convents and monastery also offer rooms for about €60 up. Now for backpackers, hostel accommodation can be as low as €20 per night.

Cost of Meal

Prepare to spend around €20 per day on budget meals when you are in Rome. Average cost for coffee and bread during breakfast is about €5 while a simple lunch of pizza or pasta would cost about €5 to €10. A dinner at a fancy Eat and Drink is about €10 to €25. Beer is €1 at groceries but regular price of beer when dining in a bar is at €3 to €5 a pint. A gelato on a hot afternoon would cost you €2.

Cost for Commute

In Rome, do what Romans do and go around the city via public transportation. Sure, you can just easily ride a Hop-on Hop-off bus for a hassle free tour but to really experience and get to know the city further, a commute through bus or train won’t hurt. A standard ticket per trip in local transport cost € 1.50 but there’s also a €6 daily ticket valid throughout the day for an unlimited metro bus and train ride. For tourists, a three days transport pass cost €16.50 and this also includes unlimited metro bus and train ride within Rome.